pentathlon showjumping

[Beanyowner]

In that case we would have NO penthletes, no Triathletes...oh and I think its that Kelly Sotherton that can't throw a javlin very well right...so obviously shes [****] and didn't deserve the medal she got at the last olympics......you didn't really think that out did you!

 

[trendybraincell]

they are horse riders too, they may not be as experienced as you or I but in my opinion that is no excuse. I do understand where you are coming from but I'm afraid we will have to agree to disagree on this one.

my last issue though is that they wouldn't have been told to start riding just for the pentathlon would they? They aren't triathletes just adding 2 more sports the triathlon has running cycling and swimming (in open water) a different sport completely.

 

[Flame_]

Come on... There have to be at least five people in all the countries that are actually quite good at all five disciplines.

 

[Happy Horse]

It's like watching a local show on the TV!

 

[MooMoo]

Just because they dont know the horse's very well isntany excuse for the excessive smacking with the whip over rider errors, jabbing with spurs and yanking on their mouths. If they arent capapble of jumping a 1.20 round then plain and simple they shouldnt be doing it! Its detrimental to the horses.

 

[JM07]

[ QUOTE ]
It's like watching a local show on the TV!

[/ QUOTE ]

thats what i said on the other thread..just like your avaerage unnaff

 

[Beanyowner]

I am not personally aware of what sports people have come from...I know one girl currently in the GB Juniors...excellent fencer, shooter good at swimming and running...she was told by her clubs that she'd be good at Modern Penthlon so she was put forward and got onto the GB Junior Advancement sqaud I beleive...shes been riding for about 2 years now and she can make it round a course but she just is not a strong rider...I've seen her jump myself and its a case of sit and stear...not you imagine that on one of these horses?!?

Like I said, one of my best friends is the womens travelling reserve for penthlon and I know all the penthletes at Beijing someway or another...they work REALLY hard. My friend got into penthlon through pony club and she even struggles with some of the horses that are pulled out...they are in no way easy rides!

So in answer to you last question...Yes they most definitly do!

 

[xspiralx]

Sorry but the "this is their weakest discipline" excuse doesn't hold up to me.

Of course you don't expect brilliance, but if somebody cannot ride a horse in a basically competent fashion*, then first of all they should NOT have spurs, and secondly, they should not be jumping a 1.20m course.

This is the Olympics for goodness sake - they might have to do 5 disciplines but its not too much to expect a decent level of skill in all of them.

Otherwise, the riding should either be taken out, or the fences lowered to around 1m or something - its simply not fair on the horses to have to jump a course that size with a total novice. They should make it a level that the riders ARE competent at.

* When I say competent, I don't mean brilliant - but simply able to approach a fence quietly in balance, keeping leg on and not interfering.

 

[MooMoo]

I agree completely!

 

[trendybraincell]

[ QUOTE ]
So in answer to you last question...Yes they most definitly do!

[/ QUOTE ]

well if that is the case there is something wrong with the way the sport is organised. It is unfair to both horse and rider to expect competitors to learn to go around a 1.20 track having not had the benefit of alot of training.

Only seen one team GB rider so far, and he was a decent rider...not great but in my opinion, of a better standard than some. So if that is the case with all the team GB athletes send them my best wishes and I hope they do well, if they but as much time into training as you say they deserve to do well

 

[Vicki_Krystal]

QR

The grey - choo choo is hopping lame???


and do they normally let people get on with head injuries?? (it was his fault though imo - riding like a tw@t)

ets - that also, seeing as it is quite an influential part of their whole event - and knowing they only get 20 minutes with a horse before going into the ring - surely they would do as much riding as possible at home - maybe then some of them would actually use their legs - instead of their sticks when it does go wrong

they are not riders - true
BUT they are at the Olympic games and it looks like local unaffliated with the way they are riding.

 

[wishfulthinking]

This is a disaster. Agree that something needs to be changed.

 

[Chestnut_filly14]

Yes, it may not be their strongest disciplines, but you couldn't say that so much about the others?

That was badly written - hang on.

Okay, so someone is not the best at riding. They get round the course as the others are doing [IMHO not well] and the horse is injured.

Thats bad. Horse suffers.

And then say someone is not the best at... is it shooting the other discipline? Lets take shooting. They do crap, and the gun breaks.

Same league as an injured, suffering horse? I don't think so.

I think that the sport should be reviewed - this is dangerous, unfair and unsafe.

Em
x

 

[basil99]

Absolutely dreadful. Are there no welfare or vets there to stop lame horses continuing. I could not believe that poor horse that got his foot stuck in wall and was clearly lame but was remounted. Fortunately the guy took him out but I wonder if he will come in again? I think experienced show jumpers would find some of these horses a real challenge just not the sort of standard you would hope.

 

[Beanyowner]

Team GB do supply good training...all the pentathletes are based and trained in and around Bath through Bath University as thats the centre of excellence for Mod Pent in GB. Heather Fell is based down in Devon and conducts her own training...so shes doing something right!

 

[trendybraincell]

Lets hope they can be a good advert for the sport then! Show the others how it should be done (I hope)

 

[Chestnut_filly14]

that brit who just rode wasnt bad - until he tried to pull up...

I think better officials should be implemented - i.e. if the horse is unsuitable for the rider/horse is lame/ rider is having a dangerously tough time of it then they should be told to stop.

And as for "drawing" the horses - i.e. getting told which horse you ride is obviously not working and it would probably be better if they rode their own horses

Em
x

 

[annunziata]

He rode that appaulingly he just socked it in the chops after he was finished!!!! not good!

 

[Beanyowner]

[ QUOTE ]

And as for "drawing" the horses - i.e. getting told which horse you ride is obviously not working and it would probably be better if they rode their own horses

Em
x

[/ QUOTE ]

They compete all over the world nearly once every 2 weeks in the height of the season. Don' think the horses would approve with all the travelling...as they'd had to go by plane!

 

[MooMoo]

I'm sure that with a rider with good balance, lower leg position, giving hands and able to sit quietly then the horses would stand a chance.

 

[annunziata]

yes thought the last guy rode like a Pr*t

 

[annunziata]

canada man rode much better than the last couple!

 

[MooMoo]

I just hope this doest go unnoticed. H&H should do an article or something, i dread to think what happens to the horses after that and what state they're in.

 

[Chestnut_filly14]

Yeah H&H should. I will look forward to seeing next Thursdays edition!!

Em
x

 

[conniegirl]

sorry but the MEN seriously need some riding lessons, I've been to BUSA pentathlon events and the standard of riding i saw was far better at BUSA. i cant say that at BUSA the fencing was up to par or that the shooting was perticularly good but at least they could ride a deacent course and didnt lame horses or use thier crops excessively.

I do believe this sport needs a shake up and maybe if i can be arsed getting fitter for the run then you might see me in 4 years (i seriously doubt it but you never know!)

 

[teapot]

The showjumping section in a non horsey country with non horsey countries competiting in the same event as the horsey ones does not make a good mix.

Have to say though that any country that does produce decent riders (GB, most of Europe actually, the Aussies, NZ, USA etc) have no excuse for producing bad incompetent riders for the MP. Other countries have less access to such training and facilities. Put that with some pretty dodgy horses on a horrible arena surface with people who have their riding as their weakest sport - of course it's going to be messy. The men's is always worse than the women's I think. Things could have been done better today for definate both on the rider and on the horses. I don't remember Sydney or Athens being that bad though

Bet the standard in 2012 will be entirely different on all accounts due to the money that GB invest in MP over here. Plus for some of the GB competitors, they've had the chance to do Tetrathalon in the PC.

I'm not supporting what we all saw this morning as some of it was downright ridiculous and dangerous. People do need to take into account though factors such as the money put ito that particular sport, the origins behind it (as military as you can get tbh), where it's been held - those horses looked like they were straight off a racecourse etc etc etc. It's not as simple to just put in more training especially not facility wise. You can run, swim, fence and shoot pretty much in the same building if you needed to. Can't fit sj into a sports hall!